El Western Motel – Ennis

In the Shadow of Fan Mountain

When the El Western Motel, a historic property near Ennis, Montana, was ready for a bit of modernization, they called Land-Escapes Inc. The owners, John & Kris Hauck, wanted to update their Office Entrance, expand their entertaining area, replace the rickety old bridge, and make a place to host weddings and other events across the creek on the island.

When we arrived on the scene the old bridge was about to fall into the creek, not to mention being in the wrong place. The motel office entrance was outdated and the existing concrete walk and entryway were weathered and severely cracked. On the other side of a part of the Madison River was an island just ripe with potential for the further enjoyment of guest and added revenue. We listened to our clients plans and ideas, got out our design tools and went to work sketching out some preliminary ideas.

We decided that by re-locating the bridge to the other side of the pump house we could create a more convenient and welcoming approach while providing for much better views from its deck. The new bridge has steel girders and rough sawed wood deck. We built the masonry end posts from native rock gathered nearby, and tied the them into a short wall on the island end to keep visitors from straying near the old waterwheel. The new bridge is wide enough for service equipment to cross, and spacious enough to allow guests to linger and enjoy the creek, the waterwheel, and the stunning scenery.

For the entrance to the motel office we set some temporary supports for the roof while we removed all of the existing concrete and prepared the area for its newly designed decorative concrete patio and walks. A modest rock up-cropping in a planter bed helps direct customers to the proper doorway. The rock faced light post is built into a large moss boulder. We installed the owner’s “kerosene lamp” style light fixture that matches many others around the grounds. The entire scene presents a clean and gentle welcoming sight for guest and friend alike.

“Not just a place to stay – a place to make memories.”

El Western – family-owned Montana cabins since 1948.

The New El Western Entry

Entry Before

Entry In Progress

The re-Design

The re-Design

New Entry

New Entry

Specimen Boulders

Back Door Before

Back Door After

Light Post

The Old Bridge

The Old Bridge

From the Island Before

From the Island After

Building Bridges

Building Bridges

Building Bridges

The New Bridge

The New Bridge

The New Bridge

Cause She’s Cute

The New Bridge

Curb & Drive Before

Forming Curbs

Forming Curbs

Finishing Driveway

New Curb & Bridge Approach

New Curb & Bridge Approach

New Waterwheel Entry

About Company

Steve, Jay, Prescott and Sam have over 85 years of cumulative experience in the landscape and construction industries. With numerous ownership interests and wide management experience across the building industry, we are uniquely equipped to handle projects of any size or complexity. Hire a Landscape Company that you will be bragging about years from now.
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